Love In The Kitchen | 5 Natural Remedies I Used To Treat My Cold

One of the biggest benefits to the food and lifestyle choices I make in my holistic health journey is rarely being sick.  Since I began eating foods that are as close to nature as possible and making my self care a priority I have experienced a much stronger immune system.  In the past few years I have rarely gotten sick as much as I used to.  I remember a life where stomach viruses, colds, flu, and sinusitis were an annual occurrence.  I frequented the doctor’s office and the pharmacy too.  Back then I didn’t even know that the holistic health I experience now, was even possible.  I am usually well energized and in good health most of the time these days.  However, this past week the germs finally got me!

Part of a healthy body relationship is being in tuned with the signals that your body is sending you.  Since I have become more connected with my body, I notice when my systems are not behaving normally.  When I start feeling drained, extra tired, or fatigued I know that my body is either deficient in nutrients or fighting something off.  On Saturday of last week I started feeling EXHAUSTED.  It seemed like no matter what I did, I was tired.  I knew that I wasn’t experiencing symptoms of PMS (which usually drains my body).  So, I assumed that I was at the beginning stages of potentially becoming ill.  However, I had SO much going on on my schedule that I kept going full speed ahead with all my running around and errands.  By Wednesday of that following week I woke up with sore throat, postnasal drip, and a headache.  The cold was on my doorstep!

Normally when I feel my body “coming down with something” I will get extra rest and load up on my natural immune boosters, but this time I neglected to do so and I was down for the count.  I was past the “ounce of prevention” and had to go for the “pound of cure”.  That day I went immediately into treatment mode for my body.  I prefer to use natural homeopathic remedies rather than pharmaceuticals or over the counter medicines.  I believe that the chemical and toxins in the typical cold and flu medicines do more harm to the body than good.  So I have an arsenal of natural remedies that I use.   Here are 5 of them that I used this time:

1. Increasing Rest & Sleep– For me this means staying in the bed, staying off my feet, and getting as much sleep as possible.  If you are enterprising and hard working this may feel like extreme laziness to you.  However, it can be a necessary part of the healing process, so think of it as productivity.  You are helping your body to heal and get better faster.  I know that if I give myself 1-2 days to truly rest , I can be back to 100% sooner and produce more quality work.
2. Juicing Organic Fruits & Veggies– One of the benefits of juicing is that the nutrients are able to go straight into your system so your body can absorb them quickly and efficiently.  There are times when we can cut corners when it comes to purchasing  organic goods.  However organic fruits and veggies do tend to be more nutrient dense and will give you the maximum benefit for healing.  I juiced 2-3 times per day when I was sick and after each glass of juice I felt A LOT better!
3. Drinking Organic Tea– When my throat was hurting and I was sneezing my head off, nothing felt better than some warm tea to soothe me.  It helped to heat my body when I was feeling chills and to induce a more relaxing, peaceful sleep too.
4. Eating Easily Digestible Foods– Most of us have heard from our doctors, mothers, or caretakers that we should eat soup when we are sick.  One of the reasons is because the digestion process takes energy from the body, so sticking with liquids (like juicing or soup) makes it easier on the body.  If the body doesn’t have to use energy digesting a steak or hamburger, it can direct more energy towards the healing process.  Just be sure to monitor the sodium and chemicals in your soup!
5. Taking Hot Showers & Baths– Think detox!  Our body absorbs and releases toxins through the skin.  So by taking hot showers and baths  (especially ones that detox) we are helping the body to get rid of what we don’t need so that it can heal. Be careful to hydrate well before and after showers and baths as well.

I know this sounds a little to simple to be effective, but it worked for me!  I woke up sick on Wednesday and by Friday I was all good.  Every body is different, so what works for me may not work for you in the same way or time.  However, it’s worth a try!  Please feel free to use the recipes that I shared and if you have other natural remedies that you use, please share them with me as well.  I”m always looking for a new way to love my body in a holistically healthy way.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please read and acknowledge the See Body. Love Self. Disclaimer in relation to all health and wellness information.